We want to ensure that our military and Veteran communities use the 4 Rs:  Readiness and Resiliency to Retain and Recruit talent. We can only do this by promoting a better environment for everyone. As we work hard in our efforts, I think it is important to take a moment to reflect and celebrate where we came from in order to know where we are going! Currently, there are many military milestones to commemorate. My hope is that you join me in celebrating.

I would like to celebrate the second year of our Campaign for Inclusion Research Series and the release of the newest report, “Build Bridges to Belonging: Building Bridges to Belonging for Military Families of Color ”. I believe that it is our communities' shared responsibility to shed light on these critical issues, be transparent about what the critical issues are, and seek to find solutions, so that our military families feel valued, seen, and respected in the communities where they call home. This two-day event did just that! Using data from the 2022 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, we identified and elevated new findings illuminating how experiences of discrimination impact communities and military recommendation. Perhaps more important, we identified community attributes that families point to as bridges to belonging. In this two-day event, we were able to bring key military and community leaders into the same room as we brainstormed actionable community solutions. We concluded the research event with a  celebration as we honored our second cohort of the DEPLOY Fellowship with a graduation! Our third cohort of DEPLOY Fellows will begin September 5, 2023.

As I continue to celebrate, and think of what would be my favorite number right now—it would be 75! This year, June 12th marked the 75th Anniversary of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act which allowed, for the first time, women to serve as regular members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps! And, July 26 will be the 75th Anniversary of the  Integration of the Armed Forces. Both milestones support the equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed forces without regard to gender, race, color, religion, or national origin. In honor of this, Blue Star Families has partnered with Howard University and The Chamberlain Project for an in-person Freedom to Serve Summit which will honor the 75th Anniversary of Integration. I am excited to once again have so many community and military leaders in the room setting the stage so that we can work together to build a more inclusive and equitable military community! 

Carlandra “CT” Moss
Director, Campaign for Inclusion